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Obama's Live News Conference

In an early morning statement, President Obama assured earthquake-ravaged Japan Friday that the United States "stands ready to help" and said the administration is ready to spring to the aid of Hawaii and the West Coast if necessary.

Obama said that his administration would "continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward" and he directed FEMA to mobilize.

The largest earthquake in Japan's history - measured at a magnitude of 8.9 - pummeled the eastern coast of Japan Friday, accompanied by a towering tsunami. Hundreds were dead or missing.

Meanwhile, tsunami waves hit Hawaii in the early morning hours Friday and were sweeping through the island chain after an earthquake in Japan sparked evacuations throughout the Pacific and as far as the U.S. western coast.

This program aired on March 11, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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